Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Other animals

This is how to remove bird poop stains from clothes (tips that really work)

Follow these tips to get bird poop out of your clothes

Rebekkah Adams
By

We've all been there: Nothing ruins a day more than winding up with bird poop on your clothing, or worse, your skin and hair. Bird poop seems to strike at the worst times — you're walking down the street and happen under a pigeon or you end up at the wrong end of your parrot.

While all you need is a good scrub to cleanse your body, it takes a bit more effort to get your clothes clean of bird leavings. Don't panic. With simple cleaning solutions, you can get your garments back to new. Here is how to remove bird poop.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

15 minutes

What You Need

  • Cold water

  • Laundry detergent, vinegar, baking soda, plain seltzer, or hydrogen peroxide

  • Empty spray bottle (to mix in)

  • Cleaning cloth or old toothbrush

  • Protective gloves

Statue covered in bird poop
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to remove bird poop

You open your cupboard and find almost an endless supply of cleaning materials. But which will get rid of bird poop stains and which will make them worse? Before rushing in, take a minute to take stock. Follow these steps for your best chance of eliminating spots from your fave shirt.

Step 1: Create your mixture.

First and foremost, always use cold water. Because bird poop contains proteins, hot water can actually cook it into the fabric. That will make it worse, and probably permanent.

Start with a mixture of plain old detergent and water, but only a little bit of the detergent. If you have a spray bottle lying around, that will make a great container for your concoction.

Step 2: Apply the mixture thoroughly.

Squirt a healthy amount onto the stained area, making sure to coat the stain thoroughly. If there's a chunk of poop on there (gross), you'll want to wipe that off first as best you can. Use gloves during the entire process to keep your hands clean and make sure you don't come into contact with any bacteria. Let cleanser bubbles sink in for a minute, and apply a bit more of your cleaning concoction

Related

Step 3: Scrub and blot.

Grab a plain cloth and start to rub in your cleanser. As suds appear, blot up any excess. You don't want to push the stain in, so you need to use a light touch. If the stain is on a slick surface (such as a rubber boot), grab a spare toothbrush instead of your rag and give the surface a good scrub.

Step 4: Repeat as necessary.

The stain might not come out completely on the first try. Keep at it, and don't let the area sit too long between cleanings (basically, never allow the fabric to fully dry). The last thing you want is for the residue to bake in if you leave for a few minutes and don't return quickly.

Step 5: Wipe with water.

Once you feel confident that more cleanser won't help, it's time to wash it out. Again using cold water, you want to rinse carefully. While you may be tempted to put the entire piece of clothing under the faucet, you don't want any runoff to drip down on untreated areas. Once you've removed the top layer of the stain, rinse more thoroughly as the fabric allows

Woman looking nervously with parrot on her head
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Does vinegar work?

Yes, and so do a few other simple solutions. A mix of vinegar and water, water and baking soda, plain seltzer, or hydrogen peroxide — any of these can help get rid of bird poop.

But be careful before you dive into combining solutions. A few things (ammonia and bleach, famously) should not be mixed, so don't mess with that. Only combine a cleaning agent with water, not with other chemicals. Mop it up after it's done its work, with a bit of extra water if necessary.

Other possible options

You can always turn to hardier stain removers, such as carpet spot remover or instant stain remover. And if all else fails, you can try to bleach out a stain.

Blue and gold parrot being petted by owner
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Closing thoughts

If you've been popped on by one of your own birds, you may want to consider potty training your pet bird, since birds can control when they poop. If your feathered friend knows only to go in a small section of their cage, they won't relieve themself elsewhere if they can possibly help it. Of course, this won't work at all if a wild avian chooses you as a target. That's when you for sure turn to your handy cleansers.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Rebekkah Adams
Rebekkah Adams
Contributor
Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…
Bird training classes are a thing – Here’s how to get your pet circus ready
Follow this handy guide to find the best bird training class and teach your pet a few tricks
Bird rides a bike on a clothes line

Adopting a pet means signing up for training classes, and that’s not just for dogs. Nope! Birds also enjoy learning basic commands like come, stay, and speak (sit is a little trickier).

While you might have a few tricks up your sleeve, taking your animal to bird training classes will go a long way to teaching them to follow the rules. Remember, a pet trainer gives you the tools to help your bird along just as much as they work with your feathered friend directly. Here’s how to find a class that suits both your needs and gets results.

Read more
Why do birds lose their feathers? Here’s when to worry
What you need to know about birds losing their feathers
Parakeet picks at their feathers

One day, your bird's beautiful plumage looks shiny and pristine, and the next day, their feathers are piling up at the bottom of the cage. It can be very alarming to see your pet suddenly losing their feathers. Don't panic, though. There are plenty of normal reasons this can occur and you should look into those first.

But dropping feathers can also indicate stress, disease, or other issues, so a call to the vet may become necessary. So why do birds lose their feathers? We'll use the process of elimination to determine the most likely cause.

Read more
Why do birds bob their heads? The answer is pretty complex
Birds bob their heads for a very interesting reason. Here's what to know
Two parrots tilt their heads to see better

Birds are some of the most popular pets for many reasons: They're funny, smart, and pretty. But they also intrigue us because they do a few cool things that us mammals don't. One well-known trait is the iconic head bob, which might make you instantly reach for your camera every time you see it. It's certainly worth watching, but what does it mean? There's actually a very scientific — albeit somewhat complex — reason behind this.

So, why do birds bob their heads? Basically, they do this to see better, but it's a little more complicated than that. 

Read more